Met Eireann has issued a rare triple weather warning ahead of Ireland’s second storm of the week.
Storm Dudley has already made landfall with strong winds being reported across the country.
It will be followed in quick succession by Storm Eunice, which is due to track over Ireland on Thursday night and Friday bringing very strong winds, heavy rain and snow.
In advance of the storm, the national forecaster has issued a rare triple weather warning.
The nationwide Status Yellow alert is for wind, rain and snow and is valid from 1am until 3pm Friday.
The weather warning reads: “Storm Eunice will track over Ireland on Thursday night and on Friday bringing very strong winds and falls of heavy rain, sleet and snow.
“Some disruption is likely along with a possibility of coastal and spot flooding.”
Met Eireann said the warning will be updated on Thursday morning.
A separate nationwide weather advisory for Storm Eunice is also in place, with Met Eireann saying: “Through Thursday night and Friday, Storm Eunice will track eastwards over Ireland. It has the potential to be a multi-hazard and disruptive event with damaging winds, heavy rain and snow possible.
“Current indications are that the strongest winds are most likely to affect southern counties and the most significant falls of snow are most likely over central and northern parts of the country with locally blizzard conditions possible for a time and disruption to travel."
The advisory is valid from 4.13pm on Thursday until 3pm on Friday.
Currently, the entire country is under a Status Yellow wind warning for Storm Dudley with gusts of up to 110km/h forecast.
Issuing the notice, Met Eireann warned: “Westerly winds associated with Storm Dudley will reach mean speeds of 50 – 65km/h with damaging gusts of 80 – 110km/h, stronger on exposed coasts and on high ground.
“A combination of high tide and strong winds will lead to flooding on exposed coasts.”
Wednesday is set to be very windy with patchy wind and drizzle.
In its latest forecast for the day, Met Eireann said: “Showery outbreaks of heavy rain will move into parts of the west during the morning, tracking eastwards bringing a risk of spot flooding.
“West to southwest winds will increase strong and very gusty, reaching gale force or strong gale on exposed coasts with some coastal flooding possible.
“Highest temperatures of 9 to 14 degrees, mildest in the southeast, but turning colder from the northwest as the rain clears to blustery showers..”
Its forecast for tonight reads: “Continuing very windy tonight but winds will start to ease towards morning. Scattered blustery showers will persist through the night, heaviest and most frequent in the north and west with some wintry falls.
“Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees, coldest in the early morning.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the week, it said: “Very unsettled for the week ahead with the weather expected to cause some disruption at times so please keep up to date with our Met Eireann Warnings webpage: https://www.met.ie/warnings.”
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